I will start with I loved reading Nora Roberts books years ago. I haven’t read one in over 7 years. Life got busy. Anyways as I was reading this it didn’t feel like the typical book she normally wrote! Maybe it’s me I dunno.
But I really enjoyed the story. It grips you right off the bat. You feel so sorry for Thea who witnessed her parents murder without even being there. It just rips at your heartstrings! But Lucy kept the kids together and gave them the best life to grow into.
If you like mind games you will enjoy this book. It’s got a bit of romance thrown in. But I didn’t take that as the main premise of the story.
A definite good beach read for the summer.
Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy

A tragic and heart warming story. Thank you Net Galley and St.Martin’s Press for this advance copy of Mind Games by Nora Roberts.

I’m not, generally, a Nora Roberts reader, having read just a few of her books, some of those under J. D. Robb. However, I was glad to read this story with its tough start, a double murder. Featuring prominently is a heroine, Thea, who comes from a line of women with second sight. Thea uses her ability to solve her parents’s murder and start a new life for herself.

Filled with beautiful, caring portrayals of family and friends this seems to be a hallmark Roberts book. A very enjoyable day’s read.

I've enjoyed reading Nora Roberts for years and my ratings waiver as she's a favorite author but sometimes a book doesn't hit the mark like others have of hers for me. As a comparison, her last book The Inheritance was a 5* in my opinion and kept me turning the pages until I finished it. The premises for Mind Games was promising with Thea being able to read minds and bringing her parents killer to justice. I think my expectations though were different which is a personal issue and doesn't reflect on the path the storyline actually took.

There was alot of detail in the particular book, which one of the things I like about Ms. Roberts writing is her detail but in my opinion it tended to drag on here. We're constantly reading about the interactions with Thea, her brother Rem then Grammie(her grandma) along with a few other characters. Yes they make alot of food at home and yes they're all really nice people. Later in the book there's a romantic subplot that brings Ty and his son Brae into Thea's world. This part was sweet for the most part and I won't spoil Ty's background but this romance seemed

While I liked reading the banter with everyone and interactions as well as how Thea progresses in life, I felt there was too much of it in this story. There's also alternating POV's that weren't clearly defined sometimes so took a minute to realize who was speaking but this did help with connecting more to the characters. We spend about 30% of the book in Thea's childhood which in my opinion was a little long. Then there's the interactions with the killer that Thea connects mentally with and I didn't enjoy this part at all. Not sure why but the video game part of it(Thea designs these as a career) and their conflicts weren't what I was expecting(again this is just me) but it didn't grab me on the suspense side as much as I was hoping it would(compared to other books of hers).

Overall I am glad I read this latest novel by Nora Roberts and looking forward to reading more by her.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Nora does a masterful job of storytelling! My favorite part of her writing was how descriptive she was with the setting. Kentucky sounded so lovely, and I could see it in my mind as she described the Fall scenery, which grabbed this Fall and Winter lover's attention! I loved the premise that the main character has this psychic ability and can engage with others with the same ability through the mind. I thought it was a unique storyline, and I felt complete empathy for her and her brother, who had such a monumental loss in childhood. Nora turned their pain into passion as the characters kept living their lives and forming new relationships and memories. It was a cohesive story with a cast of unique and charismatic characters.

Combine: Small town, Close family ties, Tragedy, Romance, Contemporary careers with a bit of paranormal to mix it all up and you have Mind Games!

Nora Roberts has a gift for developing interesting and unique storylines that enthrall you from the very beginning and this is definitely no exception! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and definitely recommend it for jumpstarting your summer reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an ARC of this book but this is an independent opinion.

First of all, this was a bit of a weird book to read on vacation because it made me cry a couple of times. I don't know how Nora Roberts does it, but the first few chapters of her book reach into my heart and squeeze it like nothing else in a book. But it's still an incredibly fast and engrossing read. I couldn't put it down. In retrospect, not the best book to bring to paradise for a very short vacation packed with activity, but an incredible book overall. Next time I'll remember to save her book for the inevitable post-vacation blues.

This isn't the usual Nora Roberts suspense, and I'm glad that she's still being innovative. With very prolific authors there's a formula- there's one with most authors regardless of how often they write but it's especially evident when they put out as much as she does- and this isn't an exception. But the journey, the characters, the way that Nora Roberts writes life and love and a place so poetically, that is what makes me pick up all of her books and read and reread them.

Sensitive readers beware- there is graphic violence in one chapter and an off page description of domestic violence. This also has that paranormal aspect Ms Roberts does so well.

Wow! I cried, I laughed, I ran the whole gamut of feelings. The story drew me in curious where it was going to go. It kept me engaged because I wanted to know what happened between the protagonist and antagonist. I started to not be able to put it down because I knew something was going to happen. Then the unexpected happen and I had to keep going because that couldn't be how it ended. Definitely a book didn't want to put down but not necessarily a light read because there are definitely some deep emotions there.

Twelve year old Thea and her younger brother Remy are loving their time with their Grammy, just as they do every year during their summer break. Just like her Grammy, Thea has psychic powers that she has yet to explore. When Thea’s powers allow her to witness the murder of both of her parents and help the detectives catch the man responsible her Grammy vows to help her control her gift and to take them in. Thea grows up trying to only use her gift in emergency situations and, at times to “check in” on the man responsible for killing her parents, who also happens to have psychic abilities. As Thea grows she knows the only way to be completely free of the monster is to slay him herself.

This was probably one of my favorite books by Nora Roberts. I loved the characters all equally and the story completely sucked me in from page one. I thought the ending was very clever and tied up the story in a great way.
5/5 ⭐️’s
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

The latest from powerhouse author Nora Roberts has left me with some mixed feelings. Nora Roberts's books always provide imaginative and immersive reading experiences. She builds worlds that feel alive and thriving and where readers can escape. In this case, however, the world of Mind Games felt a little sharper, with a few jagged edges.

Following the vicious murders of their parents, young Thea and Remington Fox are raised by their grandmother in Kentucky. As do all the women in her family, Thea has the gift of sight, and she witnessed the murders of not only her parents but also tapped into the mind of the killer to give testimony about other murders and his whereabouts. Thanks to her, the police can quickly catch up to the killer and lock him away for life. The gift weighs heavy on Thea, and she leans on her brother and grandmother to cope as time goes on.

While being able to see such horrific actions is a curse, Thea's gift also allows her to create a richly vivid world of dreams. It becomes the passion behind her school studies and career as a video game designer, a choice that allows her to work remotely in the comfort of her Kentucky home. Thea keeps quiet about her gift outside of those who know her well; she has been bruised in the past by friends and lovers and is adamant that she won't make the same mistakes again.

Tucked safely and happily away, Thea doesn't expect to meet her childhood rock star crush, who, as it turns out, is the great-grandson of her neighbor. Tyler and his young son move in, and their lives become enmeshed and enriched.

I loved the setting of the Kentucky hills and mountains, and I can very easily see how the characters fit there so fully and completely. However, I have some issues with the pacing, which at times felt slow and dragged out and, at other times, sped ahead by months or years at a time. About 70% of the way through the book, everything felt rushed and pushed ahead. On the one hand, that makes sense; Tyler and Thea are falling in love, and the killer, though physically locked up, continues to bedevil Thea through mind games, and all of the narrative threads need to be resolved. It isn't that I didn't like this pacing so much as it felt like such a departure from the first chunk of the book, which detailed the pastoral settings of childhood, life in Kentucky, etc.

The emotion Nora Robert delivers is once again present in this book. She has a strong gift for character development and dialogue; scenes play out in my mind's eye as if I'm standing on the sidelines watching and listening. I grinned at Thea's dog, Bunk's, adventures, laughed at the verbal interplay between Ty, Thea, and Rem, winced at Ty's betrayal, and cringed at the descriptions of killer Ray Riggs' brutality. All in all, this is another great story from a well-loved author.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader's copy I received in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book is aptly named as the final showdown between Thea and the villain was some crazy “mind games!” It was quite an exhilarating finale! The story started off with a sad beginning for Thea and her brother but with a wonderful family and tight knit community in her grandmother’s small town, they were able to move forward and forged a new future. Thea like her grandmother has some very awesome psychic abilities that at times I find cool but also cruel. Cruel in that she see things so vividly but is powerless to stop or intervene in what she sees and can only stand as a witness. However, Thea is such a strong protagonist, as young as she was when the story started, she always has a backbone and did not shy away from confronting the man that took her parents’ life.
All the supporting characters were wonderful and I wouldn’t mind having them as friends. Then there’s Tyler, the retired rockstar, with his super adorable kid. A hero and made family for Thea who deserves all the best. Again, Nora Roberts never disappoints!

This book releases May 21st, 2024.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for this ARC.

"Mind Games" by Nora Roberts". A gripping novel that skillfully intertwines elements of tragedy, trauma, love, family dynamics, and the ominous forces lurking in the shadows. The story unfolds against the picturesque backdrop of the winding Appalachian roads, inviting readers on a captivating journey where psychic abilities intersect with a thirst for revenge.

For those who relish suspenseful thrillers infused with a touch of the paranormal, I wholeheartedly recommend "Mind Games." The book not only delivers an engaging plot but also offers well-developed characters, evocative settings, and a hint of romance. Dive into this intriguing tale and prepare to be enthralled!

Wow!!! Nora Roberts never disappoints. This one was full of suspense along with paranormal. I loved it! The characters Lucy, Thea, Rem, Ty and Bray just steal your heart strings! The way Lucy and Thea use their gift to help people is so fun to read. The story is set in a beautiful mountain backdrop rich with the area and the characters. I loved being able to read about Thea's whole life from child hood to adult. The story was just so rich and full that I just can't say enough good and 5 stars is not enough! Nora is such a gifted storyteller I feel like a kid at Christmas when I open one of her books!!! Thanks to #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

I absolutely loved the premise of this story. Good and evil connected with the minds of two very different people. A murderer and an innocent child. He spends the next 15 years mentally stalking her while he’s stuck in prison for killing her parents. She finds a way to keep him out and hopefully best him.

I was given an arc of Nora Roberts Mind Games a few weeks ago. One of the reasons she has such a large and loyal following is that she is so consistent in her writing. The stories are not exactly the same and she moves around in the subgenres of romance, but every one of her books has a familiarity. I generally know exactly what I’m going to get when I open a Nora Roberts book. I read a lot of her books at a time when I was working 60 hours a week at a low-paying, high-pressure job. I don’t read her as much anymore, but it’s nice to visit La Nora on occasion.

Unfortunately, I did not like Mind Games. It felt like she phoned in the phoning in. Thea Fox and her brother are on their annual stay with their grandmother at her house in Appalachia. Thea witnesses the murder of her parents in her dream and is able to give the police enough information to capture and convict the murderer. The murderer is also able to get into people’s minds, and he and Thea torment each other for a couple of decades. Thea and her brother stay in the Appalachian mountains with their grandmother and build their adult lives there as well. Thea has grown up to become a video game designer and occasionally helps the police. When Thea’s neighbor dies, the grandson moves in with his son and becomes Thea’s love interest. He is a retired-ish rock star who didn’t like fame. Stuff happens, there is a final mental showdown with the murderer, everyone lives happily ever after.

Currently, Mind Games has a 4.46 stars average with 235 ratings on Goodreads. In a lot of ways it feels a bit silly to review a Nora Roberts book. If what you want is to read a Nora Roberts book, this one delivers one of the classic Roberts’ trademarks – the family and friends that will throw down for you. There are some emotional highs when Thea helps the police save a girl, and emotional lows when the love interest wrongly accuses Thea of using him. To me, it all felt hollow. The characters felt more rote than usual. If you love Nora Roberts, you are going to read this anyway. If you are looking for a place to start with Nora Roberts, this one isn’t it.

I received this as an advance reader copy from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

WOW! Nora is such a beautiful storyteller. I loved this book. The first half is heartbreakingly emotional and the second just as wonderful! I highly recommend reading this one!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!!

Wow! Nora Roberts has done it again! She had me crying in the first 5 chapters, then plotting with her for the resolution of the story all the way to the last page! Great suspense, some good romantic heat, and kept me totally involved throughout! Never underestimate a down home country girl with a gift.

This is my second Nora Roberts book, and I loved it as much as the first one I read. She has a way of pulling the reader into a place with vivid descriptions and lovable characters. Her books feel like home.

Mind Games is about a woman named Thea who has psychic abilities and is connected to her parents’ killer through his shared ability.

The story itself is interesting, and I enjoyed watching Thea grow up. She’s strong like her mom and grandma.

This newer trend of single dads being so sexy isn’t for me, though. And the relationship moved way too fast for a child to be involved. Why was there such a hurry?

I’ll be reading more novels from Ms. Roberts. I received this ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I’ve been a lifelong reader of Nora Roberts since Irish Thoroughbred was published by Loveswept and will always read every book she writes. HOWEVER, her recent books have not captivated me like they used to. The female main characters are all too similar, I don’t feel as connected to them and the plots of her books have strayed too far away from romance for me. I’ve always loved that I felt like I was learning when I read Nora’s books, whether it be wedding planning, dog training or glass blowing but the recent books don’t have that component for me. The relationship between the male and female characters aren’t as developed and I’m not as invested.

I’ve read interviews with Nora and also in her newsletter where she states that she isn’t interested in writing romance anymore and she is absolutely entitled to write whatever she wants to write. I love The Witness, The Obsession and all of her JD Robb novels, I love many of her books that are not straight romance. I rarely read romance anymore anyway but I miss the relationships between the characters and the tone in those books.

As I said, I will continue to read what she writes, I just won’t be rushing to buy and read the minute the book comes out anymore and that hurts my heart a little bit.

This first half of this book tore at my heartstrings, in all the ways something can. Good, bad, beautiful, horrific, you name it. It was so wonderfully done, so emotional and raw. The second and third half were just as beautifully done and I absolutely loved every minute of this suspenseful story interwoven with the supernatural like only Roberts seems to be able to do. This has to be one of my new favs from her and I'm so glad I was able to read and savor it.

Thea Fos has a special gift to see things that are about to happen. When her parents are murdered her grandmother and her have the same vision of the crime. Thanks to her vision the killer is put away for life. As Thea moves on with her life her visions of the killers thoughts and acts torment her.



Thanks to Nora Roberts and St Martin’s Press